Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) decisions — 2025

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and remanded the claims for bilateral flat foot with achilles tendinitis, eczema, tinea pedis, right foot hallux valgus, and left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board granted initial ratings of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease and 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, but denied higher ratings. Other claims were either granted with non-compensable ratings or denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for right knee instability and right knee joint osteoarthritis, and the Board dismissed these claims.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for IVDS with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right elbow dislocation, right shoulder dislocation, and bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy as untimely. The appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus was denied due to clear and unmistakable evidence that it preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings and higher initial ratings for various disabilities, leading to the dismissal of all claims.

The Board denied the claim to restore a 20 percent schedular rating for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative arthritis with kyphotic angulation, effective December 1, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, right and left hip, and right and left knee disorders as secondary to a back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship with the back disability.

The Board granted service connection for a left and right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability based on medical evidence establishing a causal relationship.

The Board denied compensation benefits for prostate biopsy and colonoscopy residuals, as well as service connection for left ankle pain, right ankle pain, left elbow arthritis, right elbow arthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions. The Board granted service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder with a 70% evaluation effective February 27, 2023, and increased the ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis to 30 percent and residuals of foot injury to 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle Achilles tendonitis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with DDD, IVDS and spinal stenosis, and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The claim for right foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis was dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, but denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the appeal, affirming the severance of service connection for various conditions due to clear and unmistakable errors in the prior decision.

The Board granted service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to a lumbar spine disability on a secondary aggravation basis, but remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability on a basis other than secondary aggravation.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic cervical strain, to include degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis. The claim for service connection for chronic anemia and chronic kidney disease was remanded.

The Board denied the claim for clear and unmistakable error in the January 31, 2017 rating decision and also denied entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral foot, left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities but granted a separate 30 percent rating for right knee limited extension and TDIU.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including left knee limitation of extension, left knee (subluxation/instability), left knee degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spondylolisthesis, left upper cervical radiculopathy, and headaches associated with a traumatic brain injury.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral foot hallux valgus, pes planus, hammertoes, and degenerative arthritis, with an effective date of February 19, 2019. The Board also granted an increased (40 percent) rating for residuals, rupture, right biceps tendon with elbow limitation of supination and extension.